Los Zafiros

The actual 21st-century´s first decade Zafiros, who have continued the work of those others who rocked Cuban music since 1962 -when they were founded by their creator and director, Néstor Milí Bustillo- are five, just like the legendary ones. Their average age is 30.

For Jorge Echavarría –its present director and the only one still in the ensemble of those who answered the call of Eduardo Hernández (El Chino) in 1987, to give continuity to a legend that had disappeared ten years before- the story of this rebirth is well known. As one who lived it first-hand and had a leading role, he says:

El Chino, founder of the original group, was set on forming again the quartet. To this end, he received help from Mariano Suárez del Villar –now deceased- who was experienced at putting music to radio and TV programs, and together they called for a voice audition. They were looking for similar voices that would help the resurrection of Los Zafiros.

Echavarría, who knew all and each number by Los Zafiros, showed up for the audition, sang, he did it well and was chosen. About what came after, he tells us:

We started rehearsals right in 1987. For almost five months we dedicated ourselves to form our repertoire. Our debut took place early in 1988, in “Alegrías de Sobremesa” of the Radio Progreso station. That day we interpreted “Un nombre de mujer” (known as “Ofelia”), “Bellecita”, and “Me voy: mi corazón se queda” that El Chino sang.

Almost three years later, El Chino retires because of his health. He only performs with the boys once in a while on certain presentations and he interprets some of his numbers. Then he can't go on.

We had advanced some even before the physical disappearance of El Chino: we took part in different Bolero Festivals; we traveled to Sweden in 1994 because we recorded a disc and presented it in Stockholm. We stayed there 3 months.

After that, we had our first HOUSE OF LOS ZAFIROS in LA RED nightclub. That was a wonderful experience. Some say that since the days of La Lupe, nothing like us had happened there.

Then, on August 8, 1995, El Chino dies. We made our first trip to Spain in 1997 and went back on a longer tour in 1998. In 1999 we traveled to Mexico. And when we returned to Cuba we moved THE HOUSE OF LOS ZAFIROS to TVCAFE, in the FOCSA building’s patio. We've been there for around 2 years. By the way, more than 85% of the public that frequently goes there didn't know the first Zafiros. It's a young public that receives us with the same passion that the 1960´s generation received the original group.

At present, the five young men are making a research for their next record. They're trying to include in it all the genres of Cuban music. They've added a cha-cha-cha –which the previous Los Zafiros hadn't.

Up to the moment we haven't made rap but in a sense we’ve come close to that rhythm. One of our more recent themes titled “Carambola”, has a little of rap but in our own style. It's a blend of Los Zafiros´ style with the distinctive phrasing of rappers. Always, in our own way.